William w



(No Model.) A

A SAFE. `N0. 501,092. Patented July 11, 1893.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM IV. MUNSELL, OF DODGE CITY, KANSAS.

SAFE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 501,092, dated July 11, 1893.

Application filed December 16,1892. Serial No. 455,383. (No model.)

To a/Z whom it 'may concern.-

Beit known that I, WILLIAM W. MUNsELI., a citizen of the United States, residing at Dodge City, in the county of Ford, State of Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Safety Money Desk, of which the following is full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof.

My linvention relates to a safety cash desk for use in banks, &c., where large quantities of money are kept for immediate use, and my objects are as follows: First, to provide a desk or cabinet, having suitable coin and note compartments, in which money may be kept for daily use, and to so construct said desk that it will present a neat appearance as a piece of bank or ofiice furniture, and form a convenient and safe repository for money and such valuables as would naturally be placed therein temporarily,duringthe businesshours of a bank or other such establishment; second, to so construct this money desk, that, in the event of an attempted robbery, the cashier or any employ or person may, by pressing the foot against alever, release the money tills, which are hinged within the desk, and thus, by means of the mechanism hereinafter described, upset said till, and spill all the money, &c., therefrom, into a chute, formed in the desk, which will convey said money, &c., to a chest or receiver, that is built under the l'loor, where it remains inaccessible, except to those who are provided with the necessary mechanical appliances, and in order to remove it even then, quite a period of time must' elapse before the desired result can be accomplished; third, to construct the body of said desk of heavy sheets of plate steel or iron, and to rivet or bolt the sheets together, and anchor the entire structure to the floor by suitable bolts, thickly set, so that it becomes necessary to remove a large number of said bolts before the interior of the desk can be reached, thus consuming the greatest possible amount of time in effecting an entrance; fourth, to construct such a desk, and by the use of suitable rods and cranks, connect it with a corresponding cabinet, which may be placed within the main vault, so that when the till in the cash desk is thrown, the shelf in cabinet, contained in the vault will be thrown simultaneously, thereby depositing all valuables contained in both receptacles, to a place of temporary safety; fifth, to construct such a safe money desk or cabinet, which will be simple,

and at the same time durable, convenient and effectual, and with these objects in view, my invention consists in the novel construction hereinafter specified and fully illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure I, represents a side elevation of the desk, showing the bolts, dac., which secures it to the floor. Fig. II, represents a central vertical section of same, more clearly illustrating the construction and the mechanical devices which hold the money till in place. Fig. III, is a front elevation of the desk, on a reduced scale, showing the rods which operate the releasing mechanism. Fig. IV,is a detail view in perspective,on an enlarged scale,

-of the seat or bracket which rests on the supporting roller, to hold the till in place. Fig. V, is a detail view in perspective on an enlarged scale, of the supporting rollers. Fig. VI, is a central vertical section,on a reduced scale, of the cabinet, which is placed within the main vault of the bank, or lother such place; and Fig. VII, is' a detail view in `perspective, on an enlarged scale,'of the supporting trip roller and levers, which holds the platform, U, in place.

Similar parts are referred to by similar letters throughout.

A, represents my safety money desk, the base or body of which is constructed of heavy steel or iron places, B, B', and securely bolted together by suitable bolts, While the Vend top Walls, A', may be of wood, or other suitable material.

a, a, represent brackets which are rigidly bolted to the body of the desk, in such a manner as to give a bearing to the platform or table extension, a".

a', are braces which are rigidly bolted, both to the desk and to the floor, and serve to hold said desk in place more rigidly.

b, b, are the overlapping iianges of walls, B, B, which are firmly bolted to the end walls, B', B', by rows of bolts, thickly set.

C, represents angle bars, secured by their vertical anges to the walls, B, B', by a series of bolts, while the horizontal anges are firmly bolted to the door, as illustrated. C', is a similar angle bar, bolted rigidly to the top ot' front wall, Band to the table ct", and secures same together in a rigid manner.

c, and c', represent angle bars which are se cured at the top of rear wall, B, their horizontal flanges being suitably bolted or riveted to the metallic plate which forms a part ot the back of the desk cover.

c2, represents the end angle bars, which form supports for the ends of table, a". All of said angle bars are mitered where their ends meet, and are thickly studded with bolts, so as to give the greatest possible strength, and to form a method of construction which will consume the greatest possible time to take apart.

D, represents the circular metallic back which incloses the rear upper portion of the desk and the plate which forms this cover, extends horizontally across the rear wall, B, where it is secured by angle bars, c, c', and then extends upward with a projection, D', which forms an inner back, or partition, to which the trip supports are fnlcrumed.

E, E', represent the money tills, which are constructed of any suitable material, and of any preferred design.

E2, is a board or table used for counting on, and this table is hinged to the base of tills, F, by the hinge, e. Said tills are fulcrumed to the end walls, B', by hinges, F', so that when released from the supporting pulley, h', the weight, f, throws it to a vertical position, thus emptyingallits contentsinto thechute,P.

G, represents a bracket under which rests the supporting roller, h', and this bracket is rigidly secured to the base F, in a suitable manner, and the projection which receives the supporting roller has a concave formation, G', in which said roller rests.

g, g, arelugs that are secured on said bracket by a keeper, g', and are to provide a means of locking the tills, if so desired, so that it may not be accidentally thrown.

H, represents a lever, fulcrumed to the back partition, D', at 7L, and to the lower end of this lever is attached the roller, h', which, by resting under the bracket, G, holds the tills in position.

I, represents a similar lever, carrying on its lower end a roller, t', which rests on a plate, J. Said lever, I, is fulcrumed at or suitably near its center on standard, z', and its upper end, after passing through the back or partition, D', is jointed to lever, H, and both are then attached to the horizontal rod, M, as seen in Fig. III.

j, represents a coil spring inclosed in a sleeve, j', and inside of this spring is a rod j?, which extends down through the metallic casing, D, behind the desk, and on the upper end of this rod, jz, is a plate, J, on which rests the roller, t', and lug, 7c. Said roller, t', holds the spring in a contracted position, and when the rolling cover, K, is thrown back, as illustrated, the lug, k, which projects from said cover, rests on the plate, J, and when the rollers are thrown to one side to release the tills, plate, J, is released also, so that the spring,j, expands or lengthens out with suilicient force to throw the cover, K, forward, where it locks automatically by means of a suitable spring lock.

L, represents suitable pivotal bearings for cover, K, and these are hinged or pivoted to the end walls, B', by bolts, L'. (See Fig. ll.)

M, represents a horizontal rod or wire, passing in front ot' partition, D', and this rod is securely attached to the levers, H, I, as heretofore described; and on each side of these levers, near the end walls of the desk, are attached bell-cranks, N, N, and to these are attached small rods or suitable wires, n., n,which extend downward and outward through the front wall, and are secured to suitable foot-levers, n', n', as seen in Figs. Il and III.

O, O, represent the metallic plates which form the chute, P, and these plates may he secured in place by means of angle bars, 0,0, as seen in Fig. Il, or they may have a flange formed on their ends and bolted to the walls, as are the plates, V, V', V", in Fig. VI.l

O', are the metallic walls of the receiver, P', which receives the money, dac., from tills, E, E. Q, represents a pan placed in said receiver, into which the money will fall, and this pan may be drawn up, after the front wall, B, has been removed, and the contents removed through the opening, o', formed in chute, P.

Secured to the interior of the front wall, B, is a bell-crank, R, having a rubber cushion, r, or such other equivalent on its upper extension, and this bell crank is fulcrumed to the wall by bearing r', as illustrated in Fig. ll, and to its lower extension is attached a rod orwire,R',which extends downward through the chute and Hoor, where its lower end is attached to a similar bell-crank,S, which is fulcrumed to the joist, or other timber. Extending horizontally from this bell crank is arod, S', which passes along under the floor to the safety vault, and at some convenient place in said vault may be placed a cabinet, T, constructed substantially as shown in Fig. VI, which is designed to contain the reserve funds, not intended for immediate use; and under the floor, and to the rear of this cabinet, is located a third bell-crank, S", to which said wire or rod, S', is attached, and to one end of said crank, S", is secured a rod or wire, s, which extends upward to a lever, y', to which it is fastened.

U, represents the shelf or table, on which the bags of coin, and packages of notes are placed, and this table is hinged on bearings, u, and provided with a weight, u', and is held in a horizontal position by a roller, y", which is attached to bearing, Y, and rests under the bracket, X, as illustrated. The lever orbearing rod, Y, has an extension, y, which passes through the wall of the cabinet to form a fulcrum, and it is to this fulcrum point, y, that the operating lever or arm, y', is attached.

The walls, base and cover of cabinet, T, are

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formed of plate steel or iron, and are to be bolted together by bolts in such a manner that considerable time will be required to force an entrance. chutes, V, V', and V", are rigidly bolted to the walls by means of bolts passing through the flanges, c, c, ii, and the bottom or base, W, is so constructed that anges are formed on its four sides, and the anges are securely bolted to the walls. Y The money receptacle above the table, U, is provided withra suitable door, Z,.and a spring lock, e', as illustrated.

V3, are two angular cleats, secured on each side of the cabinet, and are for the purpose of preventing the contents of said cabinet from being carried back to the top of same,

in the event of its being thrown over and turned upside dow nby persons trying to gain illegal possession of said contents. This cabinet or safe will, however, be firmly anchored to the floor of the vault, so that to overturn it will require extraordinary strength and considerable time.

The horizontal rod or wire, M, may extend through the opening, fm', beyond the ends of the desk, and at intervals maybe attached to ybell-cranks and foot-levers, which may, in the event of an attemped robbery, be operated by any person or employ by simply pressing the foot on one of the levers.

In certain sections of the country, and especially in the smaller cities and towns, banks are sometimes entered by robbers, who compel the persons in charge to hold up their hands, while they take the money from the till or cash drawer, and then force the person or persons in charge to open the main vault, and ofttimes they succeed in procuring all the cash and valuables to be found, and my object is to provide a means to prevent this. In a bank provided with such a money desk as herein described, the cashier or person in charge,fcould, while obeying the summons of hold up your hands, vby a simple quick movementof the foot, throw the foot lever, n', and thereby release the tills, E, E', which will instantly fall to a vertical position, and

thereby permit all the money, dac., to pass out into the chiite, P, to be conveyed to receiver, P', and the weight, f, striking against crank, R, will operate theY rods, R', S', and s, and cranks, S, S", and Y, thus releasing the table,

U, in vault cabinet, T, so that the money in' this also would be conveyed to the bottom of same, where, in order to reach it, the proper tools must be used, and several dozens of bolts must be removed, which would consume more'time than wouldA be compatible with success.

Having thus fully described my invention,

what I claim, and desire to secure' by Lettersv Patent, is-

1. A safety money desk constructed of steel The inclined shelves ory or iron plates, which are bolted together and firmly anchored to the floorfthe money tills, E, E', pivoted on bearings, F', and held in a horizontal position by a roller resting under a bracket, so that when saidtills are released, by operating av foot -lever, n, and thereby throwing the lever, H, which carries said roller, the weight, f, will throw them to a vertical position, thus emptying the contents into a chute, which conveys it to a receiver, substantially as set forth and described.

2. A safety money desk, the desk walls constructed of heavy metallic plates, securely bolted together, the tills pivotally secured in place, the roller, h, for holding the tills in position when in use, and for releasing same when desired; therollen', resting on plate, J, to hold the spring, j, in a contracted position, which when thrown, will release said spring for instantly closing the desk, and the manner of attaching and operating the levers, dac., for releasing the till; as fully set forth and described. A

3. In a safety money desk, the tills pivoted on bearings, F', the levers, H, I, carrying rollers, 7i', i', for holding and releasing said tills and the cover, the chute, P, constructed in said desk, to convey its contents to a place of temporary safety; all substantially as specified.

4. In a safety money desk, the tills pivoted on bearings F', the weight, f, for throwing said till to a vertical position so as to spill the contents therefrom, the bell-crank, R,op erated by the weight, f, which operates a series of wires or rods 'and bell-cranks, and

thereby releases the table, U, in cabinet., T, so that the contents contained in said cabinet are deposited at the bottom of same, for the purpose, and substantially as specified.

5. In a safety money desk, the tills pivoted on bearings, F', the chute, P; and pivoted cover, K; in combination with a cabinet, T,

constructed in the main vault, said cabinet having inclined shelves, V, V', V", to convey Ythe contents to the bottom, so that they may M, to which said lever is secured,'the foot levers, n', n', 'connected to said wire or rod, by

rods, n, n, to be operated by a person in any part of the room; substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM w. MUNsELL.

Witnesses:

HENRY C. DE WITT, JARvIs H. MILLER;

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